How old to start with gears?

JamesBrckmn
JamesBrckmn Posts: 1,360
edited November 2009 in Family & kids cycling forum
My neighbour is thinking about getting a new bike for his son, but doesn't know if heshould get gears, as he doesn't know if he is old enough for them (he is 5).
What do you think/what have you done with your kids?

Comments

  • Mike Healey
    Mike Healey Posts: 1,023
    Very few 5yr olds can use gears properly or even slightly so. Our experience is that kids begin to grasp how to use them at about 8, tho' kids who ride off-road frequently may do so a little earlier, esp. if they are introduced to 'cross by cruel parents. :wink:

    A more precise answer is, "how long is a piece of string". But I'd say no gears.
    Organising the Bradford Kids Saturday Bike Club at the Richard Dunn Sports Centre since 1998
    http://www.facebook.com/groups/eastbradfordcyclingclub/
    http://www.facebook.com/groups/eastbradfordcyclingclub/
  • daniel_owen_uk
    daniel_owen_uk Posts: 192
    I would say earlier than 8 if they ride regular, our 6 year old is happy with gears, she is on a bike from 7+ but is very tall.

    So I imagine islabikes think 7+ is ok for gears.
  • The Spiderman
    The Spiderman Posts: 5,625
    My 6 year old son has a 6 speed set up on his Shogun.He hasn`t really grasped them yet,and asks for it to be put into the easiest gear!
    He is beginning to understand what they do but doesn`t understand that he needs to keeep pedalling for them to shift.
    What happened to the good old Sturmey Archer 3 speed set up of my youth....... :wink:
    2006 Giant XTC
    2010 Giant Defy Advanced
    2016 Boardman Pro 29er
    2016 Pinnacle Lithium 4
    2017 Canondale Supersix Evo
  • bledington
    bledington Posts: 13
    My 6 year old has 5 gears on his bike, he knows what they do, just forgets to use them.
    I do spend a lot of time saying "change up" of "Use first" but the increase in pleasure we both get from our Sunday rides is worth it. We can keep up a fairly good speed ( ave 8-9 mph) and we don't have to get off and walk up every hill.
  • Bear77
    Bear77 Posts: 60
    My six year old is fine with a 7 speed setup. He does tend to favour the lower gears as he says his legs hurt on the higher ones. He needs some time on the turbo I think :D
    The revolution will not be televised
  • merkin
    merkin Posts: 452
    My 5 1/2 year old finds them fine on his islabike bienn 20 small, he got the hang of them quite quickly. The hardest thing for him to grasp seemed to be that he needed to keep pedalling when changing gear. His older sister was 6 when she got her first geared bike. I think living somewhere hilly has helped us as it demonstrates perfectly to the kids the principles of gears.

Categories